In just over a week, Tennessee grocery stores will be able to sell wine.
The new state law allowing grocery stores to sell wine takes effect on July 1 at 8 a.m.
Shoppers are already seeing those many of those shelves stocked and ready to go, but with signs telling them they won't be able to buy until the law takes effect.
At Trader Joe's on Kingston Pike in west Knoxville, workers say the company puts a lot of thought into the wine it sells.
"We're really excited about it. We carry a wide variety of wines, almost up to a hundred different labels under 10 dollars. They're tasted by wine panels, they're approved by a group of people to make sure they're great tasting and great quality and we're super excited for the first time ever to bring those here to the great city of Knoxville," said Anthony Denning of Trader Joe's.
Traders Joe's has a very popular wine from Charles Shaw, that is affectionately known as three buck chuck.
It's not just grocery stores preparing for the new law to go into effect.
Convenience stores are also included in that change. Pilot says its stations are working on getting permits to sell wine across the state, that includes 30 East Tennessee locations.
Most grocery stores licensed
Earlier this week, the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission said 70 percent of grocery stores with a letter of approval now have a license allowing them to sell wine on that date.
The retailers with a license include 72 Kroger stores, 104 Walmart stores, and 16 Sam's Clubs statewide.
"We are so pleased that we have completed all the necessary requirements of the application process, and will have all 72 of our eligible stores licensed and ready to sell wine on July 1st", said Melissa Eads, Kroger Nashville division spokesperson. "We are thankful to the ABC and the Tennessee Legislature for their leadership in bringing wine to retail food stores in Tennessee. Wine has been one of the most requested items in our stores for years, so we know our customers are looking forward to this as well."
You will already find wine sections and areas in some grocery stores in the Knoxville area, as retailers prepare for the new merchandise.
As of last week, the ABC received almost 500 applications, sent 398 conditional letters of approval, and delivered 279 retail food store licenses.
The conditional letters of approval allow retailers to receive and stock wine, but they can't sell it yet.
Grocery stores without a letter of approval are either missing required documentation or were submitted closer to the upcoming rollout.
The ABC. says it expects to deliver additional licenses to the remaining qualified stores in the next two weeks.
Lawmakers approved the wine in grocery stores law in 2014 after seven years of debate.
The ABC started accepting applications from retailers in January.